The Prissy Mommy Chronicles

Chase Attends His First Birthday Shindig!

image source: Picture Book

You may remember, a few months back, when Chase had his first play date with his buddy LT.  LT is the son of Derek's good friend and law school buddy, Lester, and I adore his wife as well.  Bebe and I were pregnant at the same time and LT is about a week and a half older than Chase.  So hanging out with the Taylors is always a good time - as we have lots in common!  The boys had fun together at their first play date, and I got lots of cute video footage as well.

LT celebrated his first birthday last Saturday and we made it to the festivities even in the blizzard!  It was important to us to share this very special, milestone birthday with our friends.  So we bundled up in our warmest winter wear and headed out.  There were many guests at the party, family and friends.  The food was soo delish (my mouth is watering thinking about this shrimp/pasta with pesto dish that Bebe prepared) and the drinks were flowing!  :-)

Derek and I had a nice time, chatting and mingling with the other folks while Chase got acquainted with other little party guests!  But I think Chase had the most fun of all!  

LT staring at Chase in confusion after the birthday song was sung. 

This is Chase and I with Chandler, who is the adorable 5-year-old son of another one of Derek's long-time friends

Chase fascinated by the blue balloon next to him - he's had a "thing" for balloons since he was born.

Relaxing for a bit with Daddy after playing on the mat with the other kids

Chase dancing to the Christmas tunes playing in the background

 

"I had fun today Mommy! I hope we come back soon!"

  

Wordless Wednesday

  

Santa's Little Helper
Chase @ 11 Months, 2 Weeks, & 6 Days

Crib Games

 
image source: Picture Book

When I lay Chase down for the night he's generally pretty tired (yawning, rubbing eyes, the whole bit).  Nevertheless, he likes to call out to me (in a pseudo-urgent tone) after I lay him down, to get me to come back in the room and play some more before he falls asleep. I enjoy these nightly games just as much as he does, so I usually will entertain this a couple times - going back into the darkened room to find him standing or crawling around the crib.  He'll burst out laughing when I enter the room, because he believes he got mommy to fall for the "fake cry." 

Well last night we went through our little routine a few times, then I kissed him and said with finality in my tone that this was it - mommy is leaving the room now, and it's night-night.  He generally understands that this really is it, and will call out a few more times then fall asleep shortly after once I don't respond.  So we played our little game then I went into the kitchen to prepare dinner.  In the middle of cooking I was surprised to hear him yell out in a sharp tone, which I ignored.  Silence.  Five minutes later he called out again. Again I don't respond. About fifteen minutes later, when I figured he'd fallen asleep, I decided to peek into his bedroom.  I didn't want him to see me if he was awake (lest he think I was coming back to play) but at the same time wanted to just double-check that his foot or leg hadn't gotten stuck in the bars or something else uncomfortable/unsafe. 

He was laying still in the crib and appeared to be asleep. I crept a bit closer and peered at him in the glow of the nightlight.  Once my eyes had adjusted to the dim lighting I was surprised to see him wide awake and looking back at me, grinning.  His eyes gleamed with mischief.  Something looked awry, but I couldn't put my finger on it.  I studied him carefully.. and looked around in the crib... and then looked at him again.

Chase had taken his diaper off in the crib!  This is the first time he's ever done this.  I used to put him to sleep in those one-piece footie pajamas, but since his room is so warm now I prefer to just lay him in a onesie. I generally don't snap the bottom closed, as I don't want him to feel confined.  Well apparently he felt free as a bird!  I looked at this boy, with his onesie hoisted around his waist and naked from the waist-below, all the family jewels on display.. and struggled so hard not to smile.  But I'm pretty sure he heard me choking back laughter as I firmly told him that this wasn't okay, and that he needed to keep his diaper on.  Fortunately there wasn't any poop in it.  He gurgled happily as I scooped him out of the crib to put on a fresh diaper. This time I snapped the onesie firmly between his legs.

When I laid him down again I told him firmly that it was night-night and mommy was leaving. He smiled sleepily, and somewhat triumphantly, having lured mommy back into the room for one final crib game.  He snuggled under the covers and was asleep in minutes.

Oh, the games we play!

Princess and the Frog Giveaway - I Won!

Guess who won a Disney "Princess and the Frog" MomTV Giveaway Prize Pack?  Woohooooo!!!!

I'm a member of the MomTV community and, one day while perusing the site, was excited to come across a video that MomTV Co-Founder and Executive Producer, Stephanie Piche', had posted of Princess Tiana's debut in Magic Kingdom.  Stephanie was fortunate enough to be in Disney World for the processional and official welcoming ceremony of the new princess, and she captured it all on video - lucky duck!  After I finished watching the video and squealing with delight (because I really did feel like I was there!) I decided to enter the accompanying contest for a Princess and the Frog Prize Pack, which included the Official Walt Disney World Princess Tiana doll, a Princess and the Frog card game, a Princess and the Frog reusable shopping bag, and other goodies.

I never in a million years expected to win though because... well, there were a lot of entrants and, quite frankly, my luck just isn't so hot when it comes to the various blog contests.  But since I wanted this prize pack sooo bad I said to myself.. why not not just go for it?

I'm glad I did!!! *cheesing* Thank you Stephanie!!!! I literally just tore open my box of goodies and am like a kid in a candy store.

Just to back up for a minute... you folks know just how excited I am about the upcoming movie, right?  I even dressed my entire family up for Halloween as Princess and the Frog characters. This was my way of celebrating and welcoming this beautiful African-American princess who has been such a long time coming!  So umm, yeah, I've been just a little bit obsessed with the new Disney Princess Tiana.  I'm just so happy that we'll finally have "our" princess, you know what I mean, girls? I even made a point of beginning my Princess Tiana memorabilia collection.

I'm excited to now add my new Princess Tiana doll to my collection of African-American NRFB collectible Barbie Dolls.  She will fit in quite nicely.  

With only weeks before the theatrical release of The Princess and the Frog, the excitement for film-inspired merchandise seems to be building in a big way as anticipation for the film intensifies. Since its launch just a few weeks ago, retailers report that the merchandise has already begun out-selling other Disney Princess items by double digit percentages.  Wow!  I'm glad I started my collection when I did, as I have a feeling these items will be gone from shelves within the upcoming weeks.  Can you believe that more than 45,000 dolls have sold in less than a month with 17,000 selling last week alone? Yes, really!

Are you as excited about the newest Disney Princess as I am?

Wordless Wednesday

Daddy, Chase, and Mommy at the 2009 ING New York City Marathon
Chase @ 9 Months and 4 Weeks Old

Packing & Potpourri

So things are shaping up!  Derek left this morning at 9 am to meet the painters over at the new place.  They all drove over to a neighboring paint shop to pick up a few more supplies.  While at the paint store we both received a call on our cell from the delivery guys with the furniture.  The pieces were scheduled to be delivered at 12 noon but they said they were on their way and would be there in 20 minutes! *Yikes* However, Derek was able to make it back as they were arriving.  The painters began promptly upon their return, and really didn't take up any room at all, as they were just doing the one wall.

I actually googled it and found the exact shade we chose - a brown taupe. 

 
image source: Decor Pad

Yes, it does look this amazing in person!  I love this color so much.  Funny thing is, after we left the paint store last week, my confidence in the color we'd picked out slowly began to ebb.  I started to wonder: Should an accent wall really be brown? Is it too dark?  Will it look nice with the furniture and hardwood floors?  Have we made a terrible mistake?  However, once the wall was finished, we both just looked at it and smiled.  It really does look lovely, and when the furniture was placed I knew we'd made the right choice!  Next week our area rug should be done.

Let's see, these are yet more items we need to pick up:

♥ ottoman tray to place on our fabric coffee table (saw a few super cute ones at Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, Pier I Imports, Bombay & Co.)
♥ bookshelf/DVD holder of some sort
♥ little desk for Chase's room - he's getting Daddy's Mac and Derek is getting a new laptop. (Yes, Chase loves to play on the computer already.  What can I say, it's in his genes! lol)
♥ 1 end table + cute standing lamp for living room
♥ new high-chair for Chase
♥ [attractive] space saver for bathroom

♥ rug set for guest bathroom

♥ rug set for master bath

♥ shower curtain & shower rug

♥ bathroom art

I just have so many ideas swirling around in my head - little ways to make the place nice.  While I want to take my time and do this right, there are a few things we want to have done quickly because we'd like to have a small gathering just before the holidays (maybe Christmas Eve).  So something like the window treatments - I want that complete!   But choosing art for our walls?  That can't be rushed, you know?

Spoke to Sibo this afternoon and she'll be coming up on 12/5 to help us with packing and also watching Chase when the movers come the following day. Yesss!!!! Thanks Sibo!!!! My mom is coming the following weekend, because she's the queen of organizing/unpacking/space-saving and I.Need.Her. Thank God for family! 

So.... tomorrow the exterminator, and my goal is to pack two more boxes: Chase's books and our towels/linen, and begin to gather clothes to donate to Goodwill. Sometimes its hard to give away really nice clothes and I struggle with this - but I've come to realize that, if I haven't worn something in over two years, I probably *ain't* wearing it again. So I'm going to do my best to emotionally detach while sorting through my "stuff." 

*sigh* So glad things are coming together.  You'll have to really pardon these next few blog posts, as I'm totally free associating and I'm sure they'll be similarly one-tracked.  This really is my only way of mentally tracking my progress and staying organized/sane during this process.  I figured I could either disappear from the blogosphere for another week, or just begin to include you all in the process.  So.... welcome to the chaos that is now my mind. :-) It'll all be over in a couple of weeks, and pictures of the new digs will be forthcoming too!

My decorating-nistas... would love to see your home decor inspirations.  Can you share either your fav interior decorating websites or even flicks of your living space?  Muchas gracias!

Busy Little Bee

image source: Mollie B's

Hi folks!

Please pardon my absence.  I've had my hands overflowing with numerous projects and deadlines, both personal and professional.  We're also in the process of packing to move and, for anyone who has ever moved in the past, you know just how draining and arduous a task that can be.  Sadly, this is the most disorganized and chaotic I've ever been when moving.  I guess I've never done it before with an almost-walking baby and also working full-time. I covet Chase's naps now like a little kid sweats Christmas Day!  It's the only time I can really get anything productive done, with regards to packing and such.

Our move date is December 6th and we've got like 6 boxes packed. *smh* The good news is that I've booked the movers (and got a sweeeet deal!!!) and also have arranged for Goodwill to come for the furniture that we're not taking with us.  Derek has booked the Direct TV guy for the 5th, and we've got exterminator and painter coming tomorrow - we're getting one accent wall painted in the living room.  The new furniture we ordered is getting delivered tomorrow as well.  Shoot, I meant to schedule my window-treatment consultation. *mental note to do this once I post this blog*  Hmmm, I guess things aren't as disorganized as they feel - but we've got to get on top of packing this place up. Somehow, looking around at a barely packed house a little over a week before movers arrive just feels... scary.  Well, the great thing about moving is that you have an excuse to throw crap away, and we plan to do.just.that!!!

We both really love the new place we're moving to and it's only a few blocks from where we are now, which means we won't have to look for new services and amenities (i.e., Chase's pediatrician, my OB/GYN, grocery store, our housekeeper - all that can stay the same).  Unfortunately, the lease to this place doesn't actually end until January 31st... so we'll be paying two rents for a couple months.  Not ideal, but such is the life of a NYC renter. You find something awesome and you grab it!  Although we technically have keys in hand now, we don't necessarily have to rush and move right away... but we both really want to be moved and settled before Christmas, which is why we're trying to go ahead and make that move.  This Christmas promises to be extra special for a couple of reasons.  The obvious one is that it will be Chase's first Christmas!  But also the past couple years, for various reasons, we haven't had an opportunity to really celebrate the holidays the way that I like (we didn't even have a tree last year!). It's been depressing for me, as Christmas is my favorite holiday and extremely important and sentimental to me.  So this year we'll be doing a full, wonderful Christmas and I'm sooo glad about that.

Thanksgiving was nice. We spent it with Derek's family as we have for the last few years, and Chase seemed to enjoy himself (which, frankly, is all I really care about).  He was throwing down on that Thanksgiving food I was feeding him, with his two little teeth - tearing up some yams, potato salad, mac and cheese, and turkey like there was no tomorrow. *smh* I guess he's officially not a vegetarian anymore, as I'd been aiming for.  Oh wait, that ended a couple weeks ago when I let him chew on a blue cheese-covered chicken bone to prevent him from melting down at a restaurant. Bad Mommy!  Bad Mommy!  Hey, don't judge me.

Hope everyone's holiday was swell!  I'm so glad I took today off - I needed this.

Wordless Wednesday

Chase In Lotus.
6 Months, 2 Weeks, & 3 Days

Music Together and Chase

 
image source: Picture Book

Hi girls!

I'm so happy!  A few months ago Chase's day care center introduced the Music Together program, which is an internationally recognized early childhood music program for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartners.  The program was created in 1987 and pioneered the concept of a music curriculum based on the recognition that all children are musical, and can learn to sing in tune, keep a beat, and participate with confidence in the music of our culture, provided that their early environment supports such learning.

So at day care Chase is in the Red Room, which is babies to pre-walking tots.  The Music Together program wasn't extended to the Red Room.  You see, the curriculum consists of sharing songs, instrument play, rhythm chants, and movement activities and (for budgeting reasons) it was determined that the Red Room wouldn't be enrolled in the program.  Apparently the program is way expensive, and the center directors preferred to wait until the babies are old enough to fully engage and participate in an active way.  So the program was instead introduced to the Purple Room, Yellow Room, and Green Room. 

I actually wasn't even aware that the Music Together program had come to the center, as Red Room parents weren't formally notified (I guess they figured it wouldn't be relevant to us until our babies transitioned to the Purple Room). I only found out about the Music Together program when I was informed by the director of the program that Chase had been selected from the baby room to participate.  Apparently, his interest in music caught the attention of folks in the center and they began to realize just how much he loves it!  So they now pull Chase from his class room Fridays at 9:30 am and he attends Music Together in the Purple Room!

Derek and I were freaking thrilled to hear this!  I mean, we both knew that our baby loves music.  His favorite toy is his Learn and Groove Musical Table, which has 15 musical activities and more than 40 songs and melodies.  The kids' programs he sweats are the music-based ones, ie, "The Fresh Beat Band" and "Yo Gabba Gabba!" along with "Blues Clues" and "Ni Hao Kai Lan."  However, we had no idea that his passion for music was so great that he stood out amongst his peers.  Wow!  This actually became topic of discussion at the last meeting for the Board of Directors, where I recently became a parent member.  I just sat quietly, beaming with pride, as the director read her report and updated members on how the Music Together program is going, and how they selected one baby from the Red Room to participate.

It's hard to capture his love of music into words.  So above is a little video I made the other day of Chase grooving to his musical table - dancing mad hard and playing different tunes.  I wish it was taken from the front, but it was a very impromptu little web cam flick I made in the middle of his dancing.  If you'll notice, toward the end, he starts sampling different tunes (like a little d.j.), then glances back at me to make sure I'm enjoying myself.  He does that with me and Derek - he really loves to play music for us, and he'll check to make sure we're both happy and dancing before he allows himself to dance and let go.  lol. It's super cute.

Anyway, just had to tell you guys how proud and overjoyed I am that Chase is being stimulated musically both at home and school.  That is important to us, as we really want to nurture his interest in various forms of music and encourage him to develop this aptitude.  I'm just so pleased that his day care is supporting us in these efforts - they rock!

Wordless Wednesday

 
Busted!
Chase @ 10 Months, 1 Week, and 6 Days Old